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As the GOP is the party of limited government and personal responsibility, and as America's poker players are very active on Capitol Hill and at the grassroots, let's reject attempts to add a plank to the platform advocating federal prohibition of online poker. There are real solutions to this issue play right now.
Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX) is sponsoring HR 2366, the Internet Gambling Prohibition, Poker Consumer Protection, and Strengthening UIGEA Act . This bill provides for consumer protection and law enforcement by establishing a framework for licensing and regulating of online poker. This bill does not authorize video poker or any other house-banked casino-style game. Rather, it applies to poker -- the electronic version of the game played at kitchen tables across America -- and is limited to this person-to-person game of skill. Nor does it force unwilling states to participate. The legislation respects states rights by allowing states to choose either to participate or to opt out.
The National Fraternal Order of Police sent House and Senate leaders a letter urging Congress to pass legislation to license and regulate online poker, joining former FBI Director Louis Freeh and former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge in seeking common sense action to address this very important issue.
Licensed and regulated U.S.-based horse race wagering sites have proven through years of experience that online betting sites can successfully implement these important protections.
Let's create jobs, restore liberty, and aid law enforcement with this common sense bill. As for the minority of Americans who would back a big government ban on poker, Rep. Barton had the perfect limited government response for them last week, when he told Fox Business, "If you don't want to play poker online for money...you don't have to!"
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